Two Middle Schoolers See a Future of Possibilities

November 7, 2018

MetaMedia Opens the Door to STEM-based Learning

For Ciara and Jasira, the McGaw YMCA is like a second home. Following in the footsteps of their older siblings, these two 14-year-old girls have been coming here since they were very young, playing basketball after school and hanging out with other youth. The two girls became friends in fourth grade when they both participated in the McGaw Y Children’s Center’s afterschool program, School’s Out, at the Foster Family Focus building. It was fortuitous that once they entered sixth grade, they would discover another part of McGaw that would join them together and inspire them in a way they did not expect.

Hearing about MetaMedia from siblings and friends, Ciara and Jasira were curious about its afterschool open studio and other programs. Not only could they easily walk there from their middle school, it was part of the McGaw Y where they already spent much of their free time. What they found was a state-of-the-art space exclusively for middle school youth where kids can gain valuable access to technology and learn how to use it. Young makers like Ciara and Jasira can work with mentors to understand STEM-based digital systems that lay the foundation for success in a tech-savvy world.

“My mom found out about MSX and I went and really liked it,” notes Jasira, referring to MetaMedia’s summer program. “I kept coming here to do more.” She and Ciara also joined another program, Digital Divas, which focuses on teaching coding to girls and encouraging them to grow their STEM knowledge in a supportive group setting.

What brought them to MetaMedia may have been curiosity, but they continued coming regularly because of a shared connection to their maker community and a desire to explore more.

Inspired by what they were learning to do, the two girls have naturally developed into leaders among their peers. MetaMedia Operations Coordinator Kat Maka has taken notice. “When I look at these girls, I see the skillsets and the mindsets to bring other kids into the space and lead them,” says Kat. “They have built a sisterhood of science.” She points out that such mindsets include community, collaboration, curiosity, risk-taking and persistence, and all of these are openly engaged and strengthened at MetaMedia.

Studies have shown a massive gender gap in the STEM field, in part due to a history of women not playing a big enough role in those industries. MetaMedia is leading the way for young girls to get early exposure to coding, computer science, and circuitry. They also get access to digital fabrication tools such as the 3D printer, laser cutter and more.

“We want girls to know they can engage in STEM-related activities and, most importantly, that they belong in those work fields,” notes Kat. “We are preparing girls with 21st century skills so that by the time they get into high school and think about career paths they have a strong foundation.” The bottom line: MetaMedia and its Digital Divas program reinforce a pipeline for girls to explore their passions in historically male dominated fields.

The Digital Divas experience has changed each girl’s view of the future. “Before MetaMedia I wanted to be an artist or model, but once I worked with STEM, I saw a whole new perspective of how I want plan my future career and not just the surface layer jobs. I would like to apply STEM to my life in the near future by wotking in technical engineering and artistic design and other aspects of art and fashion, while still understanding and persuing my original passions and dreams.”

Jasira says she now sees how STEM can tie into her other passions like social-emotional health and travel. “At MetaMedia I’m studying not just STEM,” Jasira says. “It’s also helpful being around different people and sharing advice, but not judging.” Both agree that having exposure to hands-on, high-level technology with expert guidance from mentors gave them the confidence to try things they had never been exposed to before.

Kat adds that the staff and mentors intentionally create a safe, encouraging environment. As part of their efforts this summer, they helped the Digital Divas create an agreement to always be respectful, kind, encouraging and focused, and to reach out to their peers before seeking input from mentors. This arrangement keeps them connected and working together to solve problems. Ciara says, “They listen to us. They are like one of us.” Jasira agrees and adds, “It is different than school, it’s not as stressful.”

Now in eight grade, both girls have also developed a love of digital media production, including webcasting and music arranging, which they admit may influence what they go on to study in high school and beyond. They have learned that technology plays a role in almost everything in life, and now they can apply their knowledge in so many different ways. Both say they want to stay fixtures at the McGaw Y, through mentoring others or applying their leadership skills in helpful ways. Ciara and Jasira are two inspiring examples of how MetaMedia is changing the way youth envision their future. It is preparing them for limitless opportunities in life.